--- title: Running a bootstrapped SaaS for 20 years with my brother link: https://blog.zamzar.com/2026/10/30/20-years-766-million-files-two-chameleons/ source: hnrss-org published: 2026-10-30T13:58:42Z updated: 2026-10-30T13:58:42Z first_seen: 2026-11-01T16:16:54.446869743Z authors: - whyleyc labels: - history - news content: extracted html: 2026-10-30-running-a-bootstrapped-saas-for-20-years-with-my-brother.html remote_preview: url: https://blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/mike-and-chris.jpg --- [![Early version of the Zamzar website](https://i0.wp.com/blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/zamzar-website-early-days.webp?w=530&ssl=1)](https://i0.wp.com/blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/zamzar-website-early-days.webp?ssl=1)In 2006, two brothers [launched a website](https://blog.zamzar.com/2006/10/30/zamzar-beta-launched/) using dial-up modems and a battered book on writing HTML4, named it after [a character who woke up as a giant insect](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/485894.The_Metamorphosis), and hoped someone might find it useful. Twenty years and **766,615,348** file conversions later, apparently someone did. ### Some Ridiculous Numbers Back when we [launched Zamzar in 2006](https://blog.zamzar.com/2006/10/30/zamzar-beta-launched/) we proudly offered a whopping 150 different conversion types. We now offer almost 15x that 👀, with **2,128 conversions** supported in 2026. Over **550 million people** have used Zamzar since launch, converting over **766 million files**. We now process over **1 million API requests** per day. Big numbers are great (they keep our resident stats-man Mike happy) but more important than features and numbers are the people that find and use Zamzar every day. Last year alone, we had: - One visitor from the remote pacific island of [**Tokelau**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokelau) – with a population of 1,499 it is the fourth smallest sovereign state in the world. - Three from **Svalbard** – a remote Norwegian archipelago which [bans cats](https://seilnorge.no/fun-facts-svalbard/) and has more snowmobiles than people. - 38 from **Antarctica 🥶** – 🙌 to the 1,000 scientists who stay there over Winter (hope the vending machines are well stocked). - 41 from the **Vatican** – h.t. to Leo 🕍 🕊️ 🙏 We have questions … [![The Pacific Island of Tokelau, home to Zamzar's most loyal customer.](https://i0.wp.com/blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Tokelau-Island.png?w=2145&ssl=1)](https://i0.wp.com/blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Tokelau-Island.png?ssl=1) ### Twenty years of unexpected adventures It turns out that running a file conversion website can lead you to some pretty strange places. [![A picture of Internet pioneer Vint Cerf against a blue background](https://i0.wp.com/blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/vintcerf.webp?w=739&ssl=1)](https://i0.wp.com/blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/vintcerf.webp?ssl=1)We’ve helped the inventor of PowerPoint recover long-lost presentations ([yes, really](https://blog.zamzar.com/2012/04/17/open-old-powerpoint-presentations-in-office-2007-and-office2010/)), supported internet pioneer Vint Cerf in his efforts to preserve our digital history, and [partnered with Xerox](https://blog.zamzar.com/2019/01/11/zamzar-powers-new-xerox-audio-document-app/) to help their printers turn documents into spoken word audio. We’ve been asked to convert sewing machine patterns (we couldn’t), resurrect ancient eFax files ([we could](https://blog.zamzar.com/2026/08/28/convert-efx-files-to-pdf-online/)), and solve more obscure file format mysteries than we ever imagined existed. Along the way, we’ve appeared on the [BBC’s Click](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/6981304.stm), received a [cease-and-desist letter from Google](https://blog.zamzar.com/2012/06/12/downloading-youtube-videos-no-longer-supported/) for letting people download YouTube videos, and somehow ended up [sponsoring a team of Scottish curling champions](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTYosD7Eq-d/). That last one definitely wasn’t in the original business plan. ### Still small, still independent Twenty years on, we’re still a small, proudly independent UK company. No venture capital, no unicorn valuations, and no plans to pivot to an AI-powered blockchain for converting your Gran’s Word documents. We’ve watched countless technology trends come and go – social media, Web 2.0, smartphones, blockchain, wearable tech, NFT’s, the metaverse and more recently the arrival of Al Pacino, sorry AI.. Throughout it all people still need to convert their files. Being independent has also given us the freedom to do things our own way. We’ve supported more than 60 charities, schools and good causes, [donating a portion of our profits](https://blog.zamzar.com/2026/03/11/the-charities-zamzar-supported-2025/) to organisations doing far more important work than converting PDFs. ### The people behind the files Behind every one of these 766 million files is a real person with a real problem. Like Robin, who thought 36 pages of work had been lost to “gibberish”, until Zamzar brought them back to life. Or Simha, who discovered Zamzar through a friend in Israel more than a decade ago, and still uses us today from Mexico. ![](https://i0.wp.com/blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/senja-quotes.png?w=1458&ssl=1) It’s stories like these that remind us why we started – making someone’s day a little easier, one file at a time. ### THANKYOU! [![A photo of the VERY early days of Zamzar](https://i0.wp.com/blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/zamzar-early-days-1.jpg?w=631&ssl=1)](https://i0.wp.com/blog.zamzar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/zamzar-early-days-1.jpg?ssl=1)Mike and I have loved building and running Zamzar for the last 20 years, but we couldn’t have done it without an amazing team along the way – Suz, Nick, Louis, Grace, Mike, Anna, Sarah and Kate thanks for all you have done. And thanks also to our many, many customers who have sent us [notes of encouragement over the years](https://senja.io/p/zamzar/OSsrKZ) – we read them all and we ❤️ you all 🙂 We built Zamzar because we had files we couldn’t open, and didn’t want to download a program, requiring a CS degree to use it. It turns out 550 million other people had much the same problem. Anyway, somewhere out there is a file that won’t open. We’d better get back to work … Happy Converting,\ Chris & Mike Whyley, Co-Founders @ Zamzar.